Rats and mice are commonly used small mammals in research. Rats belong to the genus Rattus and there are two common domesticated species - black and brown rats. Mice belong to the species Mus musculus. Both rats and mice reproduce rapidly, are nocturnal and gregarious, and require specialized housing and diets. Common diseases for both include respiratory illnesses, parasites, and tumors. Proper husbandry is important for their health and well-being in a research setting.
Common laboratory animals, Classification of Experimental Animals, Handling and application of different species and strains of animals,Different strains of laboratory animals, application and common diseases.
Justifications for invasive experiments on animals rely on claims that such research is essential for the advancement of biomedical knowledge, for the development of cures to human diseases, or for the evaluation of the toxicity of compounds to which humans are exposed. Until recently, critical evaluations of the accuracy of such claims have been rare. However, a growing body of large-scale systematic reviews have now been published in scientific and medical journals. The outcomes have been consistent: animal experiments have contributed far less than advocates would have us believe.
This presentation summarises these recent results, and comprehensively reviews the alternatives to invasive animal use with biomedical research, toxicity testing, and education.
Published studies are available at www.AnimalExperiments.info.
There are hundreds of diseases of livestock and pet animals that can be printed through properly used quality vaccines. This presentation summarises different types of vaccines used by veterinarians to control/ prevent diseases. The presentation enlists the vaccine-preventable diseases of pets and livestock, and also the different vaccines used.
Common laboratory animals, Classification of Experimental Animals, Handling and application of different species and strains of animals,Different strains of laboratory animals, application and common diseases.
Justifications for invasive experiments on animals rely on claims that such research is essential for the advancement of biomedical knowledge, for the development of cures to human diseases, or for the evaluation of the toxicity of compounds to which humans are exposed. Until recently, critical evaluations of the accuracy of such claims have been rare. However, a growing body of large-scale systematic reviews have now been published in scientific and medical journals. The outcomes have been consistent: animal experiments have contributed far less than advocates would have us believe.
This presentation summarises these recent results, and comprehensively reviews the alternatives to invasive animal use with biomedical research, toxicity testing, and education.
Published studies are available at www.AnimalExperiments.info.
There are hundreds of diseases of livestock and pet animals that can be printed through properly used quality vaccines. This presentation summarises different types of vaccines used by veterinarians to control/ prevent diseases. The presentation enlists the vaccine-preventable diseases of pets and livestock, and also the different vaccines used.
Nov 2008 - A presentation given during my lab animal rotation; reivews procedures, risks, and techniques for anesthetizing rats, focused on use in lab animal medicine
Biology of laboratory animals (guinea pig and rabbit).pptxvasanthibalan2
Biology of laboratory animals (guinea pig and rabbit )
This presentation is regarding the biology and behaviour of laboratory guinea pig and rabbit explaining the different breeds, advantages and disadvantages , breeds and strains, animal models and their applications, feeding management, health management, housing management unique traits, gender identification, normal and abnormal behaviour etc.
The Living primates is a presentation about the development of primates as the origin of human race. their categories, classifications, what are they alike that has distinctive human characteristics.
6. Introduction to Rats
• Belong to rodents order of gnawing
mammals (Rodentia)
– With mice compose subfamily Murinae
– True rats form genus Rattus
(78 to 570 species)
• Two domesticated rat species
– Black
– Brown
7. History of Black and Brown
Rats
• Black rat
– May have come from Southern Asia
– Well established in Europe during 1200s
– Reached North America during 1500s
• Brown rat
– Came from Eastern Asia and Northern
China
– Went to Europe and North America in
1500s
– Now well established in United States
8. Common Background of
Rats
• Have spread across the world
– Can adapt to many different habitats, environments, and
foods
– Reproduce rapidly
• Cause tremendous damage
– Destroy eggs, fruits, stored grain, and vegetables
– Attack humans and other animals
– Damage buildings and cause fires
– Carry diseases
• Play important role in research
– Used extensively in drug development
– Act as subjects in disease, aging, behavioral, and other
studies
9. Black Color Group of Rats
• From 7 to 8 inches long (head and body)
– Tail longer than head and body
– Ears about half as long as head
• Weigh 4 to 12 ounces
• Usually black or dark gray with brown or
gray-white underside
• Excellent climbers and jumpers
10. Brown Color Group of Rats
• From 7 to 10 inches long (head and body)
– Tail shorter than head and body
– Overall thicker, more robust than black rats
• Weighs 7 to 17 ounces
• Dark to gray-brown back with lighter brown
or gray underside
• Not climbers, prefer tunnels, burrows,
sewers, and basements
11. Varied Color Group of
Rats
• Albino (white laboratory rat)
• Cream, fawn, or light gray
• Hooded
• Capped
12. Breeding
• Life span 2 to 3 years
• Puberty at 50 to 60 days
• Continuously polyestrous (minor seasonal variation)
• Gestation 21 – 24 days
– Pregnancy determination @ 14d
– Pseudopregnancy may last up to 14d
• Litter size 7 to 11
– Don’t disturb for 3-4 days after delivery
– Young born pink, naked, blind, deaf
– Young have hair by 1 week old
• Wean at ~21 days
13. Characteristics of
Common Rats
• Agile climbers
• Excellent swimmers
• Highly curious
• Clean and odor free
• Seldom prone to biting
• Imposing when upset or angry
• Gregarious
• Primarily nocturnal
14. Anatomy
• Absence of • Olfactory oriented
gallbladder • Harderian gland
• Open rooted behind eyeball
incisors secrets porphyrin
• Extensive mammary • Average weight
tissue 350g
• Have an os penis • Altricial
15. Desired Qualities of Rat Cages
• Larger than 12” x 24” x 12” ESCAPE PROOF
• Nest box & 2-4x more space if breeding
• 65-80 F temperature, 40-70% humidity
• Wire mesh or glass sides
• Solid bottom or pull-out tray
• Outside-hanging water bottle (spout inside)
• Glass or ceramic feed bowls
• Exercise equipment (ladders, ropes, wheels)
• Wood shavings or other appropriate bedding
– Change 1-2x per week or more if moist/odor
• Nesting materials
16. Methods of Feeding Rats
• Commercial pellets easiest option
• Supplements – NOT NECESSARY
– Dry dog food, crackers, cereal, fruits or
vegetables (less than 5-10% of diet)
– Vitamins and minerals
• Daily water
– One ounce per rat
– Closed dish, sipper bottle
17. Behavior
• Long Evans more aggressive than
albinos
• Communal
• Young are communally raised
• Burrowers
• Nocturnal
18. Methods of Handling Rats
• Young rats
– Grasp around body, just behind front legs
– By tail, grasp at base close to body
• Older rats
– Use talking as relaxation technique
– When not tame: Go slowly, get attention, grasp by
base of tail, and lift
– For further restraint: Place second hand around
body just behind front legs and restrict head
movement with thumb and forefinger
19. Rat Diseases and Ailments
• Neoplasia
• Respiratory disease
– Commonly caused by Mycoplasma pulmonis
– Treatment with antibiotics
– Controlled with good sanitation and ventilation
• External parasites (lice and mites)
– Cause hair loss, itching, more
serious symptoms
– Controlled with shampoo containing pyrethrin
20. Mycoplasmosis
(respiratory disease)
• Signs: Sneezing, nasal discharge, eye
discharge, labored breathing
Treatment: Long term antibiotics
Prevention: Clean environment, good
ventilation
21. Red Tears
(sialodacryoadenitis)
Signs: Because rodents have
porphyrins (pigment) in their tears, any
discharge will be red.
Causes: bacterial infection or stress
Treatment: Topical eye ointment
22. Mammary Neoplasia
Frequently develop tumors. Mammary
tissue covers most of the body, so lumps
can appear anywhere.
Grow quite large , are uncomfortable
and may ulcerate and become infected.
Surgical removal is necessary
27. History of Common
House Mice
• Believed to have originated in Asia
• Gained place in history
– Egyptians and Romans used phrases like “It’s
raining mice” or “Mice are made of raindrops”
– Cretans worshiped mice over 4,000 years ago
– Mice were used as medicines in ancient Rome
and during Middle Ages
– Japanese bred white/colored mice 3,000 years
ago
• Today house mice are widely used in medical
and biological research
28. Basic Color Groups of
Mice
• Self or single colors
• Tans, any recognized colors with tan
belly
• Piebald or pied marked
• Satins of any color or markings but with
satinized coat
• Any other variety
29. Breeding
• Life span 2 – 3 years
• Puberty at 28 to 40 days
• Gestation period 21 days
• Litter size 6 – 12
• Weaned at 21 days
30. Mouse Reproduction
• Sexual maturity
– Females at 4 weeks
– Males at 5 weeks
• Gestation period normally ~21 days
• Litters range from 5 to 10 to 1 to 20
– Young born helpless, hairless, and blind weighing
~1 to 2 grams and measuring ~1/2” long
– Touch no young for at least a week
– Separate by sex at about 3 weeks to prevent
unwanted matings
31. Characteristics of
House Mice
• About 2½ to 3½” long (without tail)
• Weighs ½ to 1 ounce
• Small head with long, narrow snout
• Gray-brown back, light to white underside
• Large, round, black eyes
• Large ears and well-developed hearing
• Highly developed sense of smell
• Primarily nocturnal
• Gregarious
32. Anatomy
• Porphyrin Glad • Extensive mammary
behind eyeball tissue
• Small size 25-40 • Fecundity – one pair
grams plus one year
• Open rooted equals one million
incisors • Altricial
• Males have larger
spleen than females
33. Desired Qualities of
Mice Cages
• For mouse pair at least 72 square
inches of floor space and 8 inches of
height
• Plastic bottom and closely spaced bars
• Cover or lid
• Wood, nondusty shavings or other
appropriate bedding
• Vacuum-type water bottle
34. Nutrition/Housing
• Metal or plastic cages with wire mesh
• Water bottles
• Bedding & nesting materials
• Commercial diets
• No supplements
35. Common Foods for Mice
• Grains and seeds as main foods
– Commercial pellets
– Grain/seed mixture
• Ration of corn, oats, and wheat with
small amounts of millet, barley, and
buckwheat
– Feed sunflower seeds sparingly
– Give small amounts of oily seeds
– Add greens and vegetables
• Fresh hay as supplement
36. Behavior
• Timid
• Territorial
• Escape prone
• Social order poorly understood
• Males cannot be housed together after
sexual maturity MOB Syndrome
• Will bite when handled roughly
37. Clan/Colony Structure of House
Mice
• Ruled by lead or head buck
– Only lead buck mates, all other males subordinate
– Subordinates challenge buck through aggression
– Defeated buck moves to bottom of social structure
• Females together raise, warm, nurse/feed
young
• Structure provides protection and makes
finding and storing large quantities of food
easier
– Members leave urine marks while searching
– Marks fend off members of other colonies
38. Methods of Handling
Mice
• Two ways to lift
– Grasp by base of tail
– Scoop up in cup
• Allow adjustment period when first
home
• Offer treats from fingertips and then
palm
• When tamed, stroke head and ears
40. Common Diseases
• Mammary Neoplasia – same as rats
• Mycoplasmosis – same as rats
• Viral Diseases: more a problem is
laboratory colonies than in pet mice
• Antibiotic toxicities: Procaine and
streptomycin are fatal to mice
Editor's Notes
Mice are small rodents used most often in research setting, but are maintained as pets. Life span of 2 years, and are prone to geriatric disease conditions soon after ownership.